A Christian Reaffirmed My Muslim Faith

A Christian preacher reaffirmed my faith as a Muslim. At a massive gathering of hundreds of followers of Christ, she said,

"Why would any rational human want to be miserable. Why would you choose to think that? You say, well I can't help what I think - yes you can! You can choose to think about what you think so that you're thinking makes you happy. By thinking GOOD things, and being THANKFUL of the good that's happening to you, you'll be full of hope, and hope brings joy. 'Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer'... (Romans)"

And I said yes! That's exactly what my faith as a Muslim tells me.

As people, we're always battling in our minds. That's what we call it, a battlefield.

We feel miserable because we want that new house, then we complain about the large down payment on it. We feel hopeless for failing an exam, then we're hopelessly stuck in a job. We wish we were married, then at one point we wish we weren't. We are never fully satisfied because our hope is placed in things that are not designed to make us happy.

God says in the Qur'an, the Book I believe to be The Word of God,
                 "Man was created in a state of anxiety" (Qur'an, 70:19)

Contentment does not come easily to us. We have to search for it. We have to pick things and say 'yes, that's from God, alhamdulilah', and then maintain that joy by repeating it. It's another battle of the mind as even the mind can quickly feel underprivileged.

How does that contentment come to you? Well, it's not by sitting there miserable and expecting someone to give it to you. You have to work for it, earn it. You have to think about it, feel it, and then act on it. Faith, belief in Allah, is more than a few words - your heart has to accept, not just know, but accept that Allah will bring you peace and that happiness you're desperately searching for. Once you open yourself to that possibility, the truth of it comes easily to you.

"It is He who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise." (Qur'an, 48:4)

I appreciated her views. The Christian preacher showed how our faiths have so much in common. Right until she said 'Jesus died so that we could have a happy life."

[Pause for effect] ...Nope! He didn't. Refer to Qur'an, chapter 4, verse 157:

'And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.' (Qur'an, 4:157)

Win some, lose some, right?

Zaufishan

spreading light

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